AustralianGourmetTraveller-June2018

W

e’ve witnessed

the rise of chia

puddings in

hotel breakfast

bufets this year, and the

inexorable fall of paid WiFi; only

one hotel group on our list

of Australia’s top 50 hotels still

charges its non-club guests for what should

be as indispensable as running water and

a cheerful check-in.

While researching the2018 Gourmet Traveller

Australian Hotel Guide we’ve noticed more

complimentary inclusions – minibars, happy hours

and guest laundries – largely due to the rapid

expansion of freebie-friendly Ovolo Hotels. And

we were poured a craft beer from a tap installed

at the check-in desk during one particularly

memorable stay – a gesture so hospitable we

wonder why we haven’t seen it before.

There are many reasons to celebrate

Australia’s vibrant hotel scene this year. Our

reviewers were excited by the arrival of Paramount

House Hotel, at the heart of a cool community of

like-minded projects in Sydney’s Surry Hills (and

by the aforementioned ale on arrival). Also in

Sydney, we checked out the glittering new Sofitel

tower in Darling Harbour, and a heritage

restoration in inner-city Potts Point.

In the west, Intercontinental

Perth City Centre has warmed up

the welcome in the world’s most

isolated capital city. And we were

charmed by the proudly made-in-

Tasmania ethos of Macq01 on

Hobart’s Macquarie Wharf.

Exactly what distinguishes a

hotel from other genre-bending accommodation

is the subject of much pillow-talk atGT. In the end

we follow our instinct, and this year it led us to

Byron Bay; see our reviews of Elements of Byron

and The Byron at Byron Resort & Spa (page 166),

both with welcome new features and renovations.

Further afield, we name our favourite lodges

and resorts on page 186 – happy 10th anniversary,

Southern Ocean Lodge.

We aim to recognise and celebrate the best

in the business, and this year we’ve added an

award for best bed (we were flat out researching

that one). From bars to boutique hotels, you’ll find

all our award winners on page 152.

When we’re reviewing, we check in

unannounced and pay our own way. If a hotel

isn’t up to scratch, it doesn’t make this list. We’ve

nominated our top 50 hotels because we like

them – in some cases love them. Each has a

special appeal we think is worth recommending.

It’s time to get packing.

152 THE AWARDS

156 COMING SOON

SYDNEY

158 The Darling

158 Establishment Hotel

159 Intercontinental

Sydney

159 The Langham Sydney

160 The Old Clare Hotel

160 Ovolo Woolloomooloo

161 Paramount House Hotel

161 Park Hyatt Sydney

162 Pier One Sydney

Harbour

162 QT Sydney

163 Shangri-La Sydney

163 Sheraton on the Park

164 Sofitel Sydney Darling

Harbour

164 Spicers Potts Point

165 West Hotel Sydney

165 The Westin Sydney

NSW

166 The Byron at Byron

Resort & Spa

166 Elements of Byron

167 Halcyon House

BRISBANE

168 The Johnson

168 Ovolo Inchcolm

169 Next Hotel Brisbane

169 Spicers Balfour Hotel

QUEENSLAND

170 QT Gold Coast

171 Sofitel Noosa Pacific

Resort

171 Spicers Clovelly Estate

HOBART & TASMANIA

172 Islington Hotel

172 Macq 01 Hotel

173 Mona Pavilions

173 Pumphouse Point

MELBOURNE

174 Crown Metropol

Melbourne

174 Crown Towers

Melbourne

175 The Cullen

175 Grand Hyatt Melbourne

176 Hotel Lindrum

176 The Langham

Melbourne

177 The Olsen

177 Park Hyatt Melbourne

178 QT Melbourne

178 Sofitel Melbourne

on Collins

VICTORIA

179 Jackalope

180 Lake House

180 Lindenderry at Red Hill

by Lancemore

CANBERRA

182 Ovolo Nishi

182 QT Canberra

ADELAIDE & SA

183 Mayfair Hotel

183 The Louise

PERTH

184 Como The Treasury

185 Crown Towers Perth

185 Intercontinental Perth

City Centre

186 LODGES AND RESORTS

Guide EditorHelen AndersonProject ManagerKendall HillCoordinatorHarriet DavidsonChief SubeditorDavid MatthewsSubeditorsNick Hadley, Hannah Warren

InternsMatthew Hirsch, Laksha Prasad, Cathy YinReviewersHelen Anderson, Max Anderson, Emma Breheny, Alexandra Carlton, Richard Cooke, Harriet Davidson,

Fiona Donnelly, Larissa Dubecki, Michael Harden, Kendall Hill, Catherine Keenan, Toni Mason, Pat Nourse, Sarah Oakes, Maggie Scardifield, David Sly, Max Veenhuyzen.

Contents

Paramount

House Hotel.

PHOTOGRAPHY TOM ROSS

GOURMET TRAVELLER 151

Introduction